It’s Farmers Market Time!

Sawyer and Kate Mitchell Elementary School Gardens recently held their second annual student led farmers market. During the event the students weigh and sell produce next to other local vendors. The event provides an open house opportunity for the students to show their garden to the community. There is music and activities just like the weekly farmers market in town.

The farmers market is a great way for students to apply what they are learning in the classroom and about local food.

Math: Students go through the selling process, this includes weighing the produce and making change for the customer.

Communication: Students create signs for the gardens and give garden tours to community members.

Social Issues: By meeting local farmers and being in a market setting students learn about the benefits of eating local and how markets work.

Teachers in the schools took this opportunity to incorporate the garden into their lesson plans. Classroom activities included reading books about plants, planting grass in the room and monitoring the growth and math activities.

As well as being an educational opportunity for students, the farmers markets provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the benefits of community gardens and local food. In 2012 Ames Community School District had a free and reduced lunch rate of 28.8%. Kate Mitchell Elementary had a free and reduced lunch rate of 50.2%. There is work being done to combat hunger in our community and this event educates residents about foods that they might not normally be presented to.

Community gardens provide great local produce and an endless amount of opportunities for community education. Of course, none of this would be possible without the support from the school staff and administrators.

Thank you to everybody who attended the event! We hope you enjoyed it and hope to see you next year!